This summer, there was a sense of excitement swarming social media. From teenagers to celebrities, it was hard to find someone who wasn’t tuning in for the week’s new episode of Jenny Han’s “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” Unlike the last season, which focused on the main character Isabel (Belly) Conklin, and her coming-of-age and difficult decision between two brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher, the second season takes a new turn. The focus is now on the new normal the kids are trying to navigate: the passing of Conrad and Jeremiah’s mother, Susannah. The show reveals the reality about anxiety, loss, grief and relationships that are often overlooked in our daily lives. With the soundtrack of the show consisting of artists such as Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Sublime and The Strokes, Han, the creator of the show, helps connect the music to the show and adds further complexity to it.
Each week, the show would send fans everywhere into debates about which brother was better for Belly, how they were going to face a problem or the new couple emerging in the show. The drama is what pulls viewers in, as everyone just wants to know what will happen next. This season introduced new characters and new twists in their relationships. It also filled us in on what we missed between the two summers. It was so intriguing seeing the change in the dynamic between each of the characters and how the death of Susannah affected them all, or the different ways the characters changed, grew up or didn’t grow up at all. The more I watched, the more it felt like I, too, was at Cousins Beach.
The ability for viewers to be able to insert themselves into the show or become so passionate about the story truly reveals the show’s influence. Whether being on team Jeremiah or team Conrad tears apart siblings, friends, mothers and daughters, or the fact that this became one of this summer’s most asked TV show questions shows the substantial influence it had. Despite the acting at times seeming cheesy or the script itself feeling forced out of the actors’ mouths, you know you’ll be tuning in next week for the newest episode.
The new season takes us from Cousins Beach, to Brown University and even to Belly and Stephen’s own home. The only advice that I could give when watching is to bring a sweatshirt and some Sour Patch Kids, ‘cause this show will have you in for the long (and sometimes chaotic) run. The way Han did an outstanding job in turning her beloved book series into a show is one of the most impressive parts. From chapters to episodes, readers and viewers alike will all grow to love the second season of this show and everything it has to offer.
